plurilingually

Plurilingually is an adverb describing actions carried out in a plurilingual manner: using multiple languages in a single communicative act or drawing on a repertoire of several languages as needed. The term is closely related to plurilingualism, the ability to operate with more than one language and to draw on language resources across languages for meaning-making. Plurilingually emphasizes the practical, flexible use of languages rather than the fixed boundaries between linguistic systems.

The adverb is formed from plurilingual and the English adverbial suffix -ly. The concept is widely used in discussions of language education and policy, particularly in Europe, where plurilingualism is a stated aim of educational frameworks.

In the Council of Europe framework, plurilingualism is a guiding principle in language education, encouraging learners to use any available language resources to achieve communicative goals. Plurilingual education aims to cultivate not a separate language for each subject but a flexible repertoire that supports learning across languages.

In practice, plurilingual use includes switching among languages with awareness, translanguaging, and mixing languages to convey meaning, clarify concepts, or engage with diverse communities. It can apply to writing, speaking, and digital communication, and is recognized as a legitimate mode of multilingual competence.

Related terms and distinctions: Plurilingualism is often differentiated from multilingualism; the former emphasizes an integrated repertoire, while the latter can imply multiple languages used separately. Translanguaging overlaps with plurilingualism in describing dynamic language use across languages.